Burning bush / winged euonymus
Euonymus alatus
Burning bush / winged euonymus (Euonymus alatus) is a shrub suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 5–10 ft tall and 5–10 ft wide, needs medium water, and prefers full sun to part. Increasingly considered invasive in eastern US and several states have restricted sales. Not on CO's noxious list — but consider native alternatives (Cotinus, Cornus sericea, Rhus trilobata) for similar fall color. Note: fall color is often muted here due to dry late summers.
medium water5–10 ft tall and 5–10 ft wideDeer-resistantToxic to dogs
Photos
At a glance
- Botanical name
- Euonymus alatus
- Variety / cultivar
- 'Compactus', 'Rudy Haag'
- Type
- Shrub
- Mature size
- 5–10 ft tall and 5–10 ft wide
- Water needs
- medium water
- Sun
- full sun to part
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- loam, clay
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.8
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- low
- Bloom color
- green
- Bloom time
- late spring
- Pollinator value
- low
Frequently asked questions
- Is Burning bush / winged euonymus good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes. Burning bush / winged euonymus is included in the Front Range Plant Finder as a shrub suited to Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Burning bush / winged euonymus get?
- It matures to about 5–10 ft tall and 5–10 ft wide.
- How much water does Burning bush / winged euonymus need?
- It needs medium water once established.
- Is Burning bush / winged euonymus safe for dogs?
- No — Burning bush / winged euonymus is considered toxic to dogs. Keep pets away and check with your vet.
